APPETIZERS

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Smoky Berry Brie

Here's a simple, sweet way to warmly welcome guests into your home. This is one appetizer you'll love to keep on hand for unexpected guests.

round of Brie

1/2 cup to 1* cup Dan T's Raspberry-Chipotle Sauce

(*depending on the size of the Brie)

Pour Raspberry-Chipotle sauce on Brie, then bake in a 350 F oven for 15 -20 minutes (or in a microwave on high for about 2 minutes ), until cheese softens and starts to melt and sauce is bubbling

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Say Cheese & Chipotle

With the exquisite richness of Balderson's 5 year-old cheddar complimented by the luscious spark of Dan T's Raspberry Chipotle, guests will be savouring your taste in taste.

8 oz piece of Balderson cheese (or other exquisite cheddar)

1/2 cup Dan T's Raspberry Chipotle

Bring cheese and sauce to room temperature. Place cheese on a serving plate and pour on the sauce. Let guests slice their own portion of cheese. Serve with your favourite crackers.

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Mandarin-Raspberry Chipotle Chicken

This is a spectacular dish with a smoky, sweet finish that's delicious as a main course or can be served with toothpicks as an appetizer.

2 tbsp olive oil

2 small shallots, chopped fine

4 small cloves of garlic, chopped fine

1 lb boneless chicken breasts

1/4 cup Cointreau or other orange liqueur (even tequila)

1/4 tsp salt or to taste

about 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, wiped, stems removed and sliced

1/2 cup Dan T's Raspberry Chipotle Sauce

2 mandarin oranges, peeled and sectioned

Heat oil and sauté shallots and garlic on medium high for 5 - 7 minutes or until golden brown. Push aside garlic and shallots to edge of pan, add chicken pieces and sauté 2 minutes per side or until golden. Add liqueur and salt, cover and simmer about 5 minutes or until done (depending on thickness of breast). Remove chicken. Add mushrooms to pan and sauté 2 minutes. Add Raspberry Chipotle and orange pieces and heat on low for 2 minutes or until heated through. Meanwhile slice chicken on the bias, place on a platter and pour sauce on top.

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Zeus' Shrimp* & Sun Dried Tomatoes

With pita cut into triangles, this makes a tantalizing appetizer with lordly Greek overtones, fit for a god or a guest. Served on rice, it makes a spectacular main course.

1 tsp dried mustard

2 cloves minced garlic

2 tbsp chopped fresh basil or 1/2 tsp dried

2 tbsp chopped fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp dried

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup Dan T's Spiced

1 lb large deveined shrimp *or 1 lb scallops or deboned chicken breasts

1/4 cup chopped black kalamata olives

1/4 cup chopped sun dried tomatoes

1/2 cup crumbled Greek feta cheese

about 8 pitas, cut into triangles

Combine first 7 ingredients and marinate shrimp for 20 minutes. Grill or broil shrimp until just cooked 4 - 5 minutes, turning once and reserving marinade. Bring marinade to a boil, add remaining ingredients, then simmer 2 - 3 minutes until cheese starts to melt. Toss sauce with shrimp and serve surrounded with pita. Serves 4.

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Crab Cakes with Chipotle Mayonnaise

Cooking instructor Debbie Diament teaches stimulating classes in the GTA.

Here's one of her tasty recipes that includes our Raspberry Chipotle.

Visit Debbie's website at myplacefordinner.com

1 package (7 ounces, 200grams) crab meat, chopped

1/3 cup finely diced red pepper

1/4 cup finely diced green pepper

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1 egg, beaten

1 1/4 cups bread crumbs

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

Chipotle Mayonnaise

2 Tbsp Dan T's Inferno Smoked Chipotle Sauce

2 Tbsp minced jalapeno

1 cup mayo

dash Worcestershire

In a small bowl, whisk together ingredients for Chipotle Mayonnaise. Set aside. In a large bowl, mix together chopped crab meat, red and green peppers, green onion, egg, 2 Tbsp of the bread crumbs and 3 Tbsp of the Chipotle Mayonnaise. Stir until well combined. Sprinkle remaining bread crumbs in shallow dish or pie dish. Form crab meat mixture by rounded tablespoons into balls. Roll in bread crumbs. Place balls on waxed paper-lined baking sheet; flatten to 2-inch diameter. (Can make ahead to this point: cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.)

Heat olive oil in frying pan on medium heat. Fry crab cakes on both sides until golden and brown. Serve with Chipotle Mayonnaise. Makes 16 pieces

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